Elom Initiatives (Elom) is a refugee community-based organization active in Kuala Lumpur since 2017 to support the refugee community in Malaysia. It is licensed to run schools, training centers and conduct business activities to support social causes. Its mission is to empower refugees with opportunities and means to reach their full potential to become productive members of the hosting society. Elom envisions a society where refugees’ basic human rights will be recognized and enforced, and where everyone will be empowered and regain their human dignity. “Elom” translates to “knowledge” in the Rohingya language. Building on the adage “knowledge is power”, all Elom Initiatives’ projects have a learning element in which participants have the opportunity to improve their knowledge with respect to a specific skill or issue.
Elom Initiatives team has established Elom Community Center in 2018, in Taman Sri Murni, in Kuala Lumpur to provide a safe learning and meeting space for refugees living in the area. This center functions as a hub of outreaching activities providing a large range of essential and holistic services for the surrounding communities. It includes education, women empowerment, health prevention and livelihood programs. The implementation of inclusive multi-purpose community centers offering a wide range of activities, tools and resources, helps to re-create a sense of normalcy, improve sharing information, providing learning opportunities and fostering community-based protection.